Construction began in 1883, and was finished in 1888. It contained classrooms, library, dormitories, cafeteria, administrative offices, faculty housing, infirmary, and auditorium. It could accommodate 1000 students. The name was changed to...

In 1914 the fourth new building was constructed on campus. This new building, which was originally named after President James Hugo Johnston, was erected to be a boy's dormitory. In 1925, the name was changed to Johnson Hall in honor of Walter...

Mary Branch graduated from the Normal Department at Virginia State Normal and Collegiate in 1897. She returned to the campus in 1905 as an instructor and remained until 1920. She earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of...

Otelia Shields Howard was a graduate of Fisk University in 1921. She edited what was called the Campus Review which was published in 1929. Her father, James Shields, was in the first class that graduated from Virginia Normal and Collegiate...